Iran Targets Barbie, Shutters Toy Stores For Selling The Dolls

Iranian Toy Stores Shut Down For Selling Barbie

When American businesswoman Ruth Handler first launched Barbie back in 1959, she probably didn't expect the dolls to become as controversial as they are popular.

In an apparent effort to shut out Western culture, Iranian authorities have closed toy stores in Tehran for selling Barbie dolls, according to Associated Press.

Islam For Today writes that the country does have Islamic alternatives to Barbie, known as Sara and Dara, but the dolls are reportedly not as popular as their blonde counterparts.

Iran is not the only country in the Middle East to outlaw Barbie. In 2003, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, Saudi Arabia banned the dolls after declaring them a threat to Islam due to their revealing clothes.

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